Process and apparatus for sensitizing photographic film and paper



F. W. HOCHS TETTER.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR SENSITIZING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM AND PAPER. APPLICATION FILED NOV- I3, 1919.

1,403,779. Patented Jan. 17, 1922,

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F. w. HOCHSTETTER. PROCFSS AND APPARATUS FOR SENSITIZING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM AND PAPER.

APPLICATION-FILED NOV .13 I919. 1,403,779. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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uN.|T1-:n V ISTATE'S I PATENT OFFICE."

FREDERICK W. HOCHSTETTEB, OF DAYTON, OHIO, .ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO W. I. i CHEER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

-IPROCESS' AND APPARATUS FOR SENSITIZTNG PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM. AND PAPER.

siding at Da on, in the county of Mont tate of Ohio, have invented gomery and certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for .-Sensitizing Photographic Film and Paper, '01 which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. I

The objectof my inventionis to sensitize photographic film-and paper, or any other mediums which maybe desired to be sensi-.

tized, so that the resulting product will .be

thoroughly uniform and will not be subjected'to the variations to which it is subjected today.

Another important object of my invention is to provide'a method and process by which the manufacture of this sensitized material may be greatly expedited and be made much more economically than it is today.

Bymy process and-method, the operation is continuous, with practically no handling of the material, with the consequent great advantage in not only the economy of cost, but in the perfection of the resulting prod- Specifically, itis my object to only handle the paper, or other medium treated with the emulsion, once. It is another object to cut the medium to be used into suitable sizes I before it is sensitized so that this cutting can be done in the full daylight and not in the dark after it has been sensitized. It is not only diflicult to cut it in the dark, or what amounts to dark, butrit is also injurious to the sensitized surface. J

It is my object to so handle the paper that the present disadvantages of having the sensitized paper touched .by human fingers, or having it exposed to different lights or diflerent temperatures, will be I obviated. This, of course, results in having paper of uniform sensitiveness because of the gradual change in temperature, and by my method,

5 even depth of emulsion, resulting-in a senp A rollers 16, 16,wh1ch'sei've to draw it through v. sitized material of uniform speed.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Figure 1 illustrates a mechanism for executingmy process.

Figure 2 is a top-plan view of Figure 1.

Figure-3 is a side elevation .of another Patented Jan. 17, 1922.. Application filed November 13, 1919. Serial No. 337,824.

form, illustrating the method of conveying the strips of sensitized material one above the other, permitting ofthe use. of a relatively narrow apparatus;

1 is the roll of paper or film, which usually is furnished ina broad sheet. 2, 2 are cutting discs, which cut the broad strip into narrower strips. These narrowerstrips are parted one from another by the divided roller 3. The individual-strips. are passed around the guide roller 4, provided with a series of flanges 5, to. keep the strips separate and guided in the proper direction. 6

is also an additional guide roller. 7 is a roller turning in the sensitizing emulsion 8 in the trough 9 maintained at a pro er temperature by well known means. his

emulsion roller 7 carries the emulsion in contact with the strips 1, 1, from. the supply 8. These strips' are carried beneath the roller 10 and upwards over the guide roller 11 into a cooling chamber A, where the temperature is at 50 F. The refrigeration apparatus is designated generally by 12. The strips are passed over the rollers 13', 13, as guide rollers. The strips then pass into the chamber B, where the temperature is maintained at from 70 to F. and is known as the drying compartment. This. compartment' has its temperature and air conditions maintained by the conditioning apparatus generally designated by let. The material passes through this chamber B over the rolls 15, 15, which serve as guides. Then the various strips pass into a second drying chamber C, where the temperature is from 80 to F. This chamber C has its air likewise conditioned. Thematerial passes through chamber 0 into chamber D, where the temperature is maintainedat from to 110 F. This is aseasoning compartment. The

air in this compartmentfis likewise condi- "tioned.

The material then'passes out between the it su cient latitude of movementduring the intervals of perforation. There is another ,105 in a. slack or slight loop 17 before it passes slack 17* before it passes between the rolls 19, 19. This slack or slight loop 17 provides for any manipulation or adjustment necessary during the course of the microscopic inspection to which the film is subjected. The film is moved by an intermittent movement across the field or vision of the inspector and having a slight loop pretents any strain being put upon the emulsi- I fied medium. 20, 20 are guide rolls. 21 is the inspectors microscope illuminated with a lamp 22.. 23 is the intermittent movement mechanism" which allows sufficient time for inspection before moving the emulsified medium forward. 24 is another loop before I a single strip and that Figure 1 merely illusit passes over the roller 25 to the supply reel trates the mechanism for such treatment. There will be a plurality of other strips as mentioned heretofore, not illustrated in this view, which would lie behind it in the illus- .stration, all. of which would have similar ."85 F. The sensitized strips are passed,

-. ing 1t 1n a temperature of. 70 to 80 F:, additreatment and.would progress to their ultimate destination simultaneously. The case of the single strip is taken as typical of the treatment given'to all. i

27 is'the tank of" emulsion which is kept at a temperature of-85 F. This tank is supplied with the filter 28 which is supplied by 29, which empties into a graduate 30. The supply. from the "graduate to the tank 9 is controlled by the pet cock 31.-

To summarize, my process 'is' as follows: I cut the broadstrip into. a series of narrow strips prior to sensitizing such strips. I

then sensitize the strips at a temperature of after having. their treatment of sensitizing emulsion, to a refrigeration compartment at a temperature .of' F. This sets the emulsion. The strips are" all traveling to'-' gather atthe same rate parallel to one an:

- other, which effects a great economy in the 5 1 size of the apparatus and its capacity. 'The strips then'pass intoa drying room where the temperatureis raised from 70 to 80 F.' From this drying room B they are conveyedinto drying room 0, where the temperature is increased again from 80 to 90 F. And from the drying room D, temperature 95 to 110 F. the strips are conveyed into the conditioning room and thence they are per forated, if they are not already perforated,

inspected and woundfor storage or'use.

It will be'observed that the emulsified strips are untouched by human hands durthe course of manufacture, which is a distinct step in advance over the present state "ofthei. art. It will be noted that the Figure 3, this is also true. Figure 3 illustrates the various strips of material superimposed above one another. No special explanation isnecessary, as the drawing itself is self-explanatory and clearly illustrates the method employed. f v

The conditioning of the various compartments is obtained by feeding thereto air -which has been conditioned in a manner well known in industrial plants. The air is freed from all foreign matter and is delivg ered at a prescribed temperature and the usual. humidity free from foreign matter. In each of the conditioning compartments air of the proper temperature, of uniform humidity from time. to time in each'compartment and free from foreign matter surrounds the medium passing through the compartment. The amount of humidity in controlled any one compartment is suitably in a well=known manner. 7

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a process of sensitizing a medium,

sensitizingsaid medium, reducingthe tem-i peratnre of said medium, elevating the temperature of said-medium, elevating the temperature of said medium again, elevating the temperature of said medium a third time, and restoring the temperature of said medium to normal.

2. In a process'of a medium,

sensitizing said medium at 85 F., cooling it in a temperature of 50 F., initially drytional drying in a temperature of from 80 to 90 F., seasoning it in a temperature 'from] 95 to F., and restoring it to nor mal-temp'erature of the surrounding air in it in a temperature.of 70.to 80 F., addi-; tional drying ina temperature of from 80 to 90 F.-,' seasoning it in a temperature from 95 to 110 F., resorting it tov normal temperature of the surrounding air in fin-- ished condition, and inspecting.

1,4. In aprocess of sensitizing a medium,-

dividing a strip of the medium into a plurality of strips, sensitizing said strips at 85 F. temperature, passing said strips into a temperature of 50, F., passing said strips into a temperature from 70 to 80 F., passing said strips into a. temperature of 80 to 9O ture of 95 to 110 F., passing said strips into a temperature of 7 dividing a strip of the-medium into. a plurality of strips, sensitizing said strips at 85 temperature, passing said strips into a tenfperature of 50 F., passing said strips into a temperature from 70 to 80 F., passing said strips into a temperature of 80 to 90 F., passing said strips into a temperature of 95 to 110 F., reducing the temperature of said strips to that of the surrounding air, and perforating said strips,

rality obstrips, sensitizing said strips at 85 F. temperature, passing said strips into a temperature of 50 F., passing said strips into a temperature from-70 to 80 F passing said strips into a temperature of 80 to 90 F. passmg said strips into a temperature of 95 'to ture of said strips to that of the surrounding air, and inspecting said strips. j a p n a process of sensitizing a medium, dividing a strip of the medium into a plurality of strips, sensitizing said strips at 85 temperature of 50 into a temperature from 70 [ing 90 I to 80 F. passsaid strips into a temperature of 80 to F;, passing said strips into 'a tempera- F., reducing the temperaair, perforating said strips, and inspecting said strips. w a 1 8. In a process of sensitizing a medium, dividing a strip of, the medium into a plu- 40 rality ofstrips,

- F, temperature,

temperature of into a temperature fr ing said strips into a temperature of 80' to v passing said strips into a temperature of 95 to 110 F.,'reducin g the temperature of said strips strips, and win gsaid strips.

' treating a m'ediumcomprising 1n succession, a sensitizing apparatus, asrefriger-ation chamber, a drying chamber, a seasoning chamber, and means in each of said chambore for the passing therethrough 0f the medium, whereby a medium is treated'for photpgraphic purposes, 4

" -10. In combination, in anappara tus for treating amedium comprising in succession 6. In a process of sensitizing a medium, dividing a strip of the medium into a plu-' 110 F., reducing the tempera-V F.. temperature, passing said .strips into a- F., passing said strips sensitizing said strips at 85 passingsaid strips into a- F., passing said strips, m 70 to 80 F., pass:

a another, and another series to that of the surrounding an, perforatmgusiaid strips, inspecting said- 9. In combination, in an apparatus for a supply roll support, cutting disks, sensitiz- 0 -mg apparatus, a refrigerator, a drier, a seasoning chamber, and means m'e'ach of the refrigerator d'riers and seasonin units for whereby passing the medium'therethroug a med1um is treated for poses. 1 f 11. In combination, in an apparatus for treatin a' medium comprising in succession a supp y support, cutting isks, dividing disks, sensitizing apparatus, a refrigerator, a drier, a seasoning chamber, and means in each of the refrigerator driers and seasoning units for passing the mediumtherethrough,

photographic purwhereby a medium is treated for photo'- '75 in an apparatus for p comprising, in succession cutting dlSkS, sensitizing apparatus, a re-' graphic purposes.

12. In combination treating a medium,

frigerator, a drier and a seasoner, and means 1n said refrigerator, drier and seasoner forpassing' a strip of a medium therethrough horizontally whereby 'a' medium is treated for photographic purposes. a

' 13. In combination, in an apparatus for treating a medium comprising 1n succession,

cutting disks, sensitizing apparatus, a refrigerator, a drier and aseasoner, and means for passing strips, of a medium therethrough whereby a medium is treated for photographic purposes. 7

14. In combination, in an apparatus for treating a medium comprising in succession, cutting disks, sensitizing apparatus, a refrigerator, a drier and a seasoner, and means for passing strips of a medium therethrough one above another, whereby a medium is treated for photographic purposes;

15; In combination, in an apparatus for treating a medium comprising in succession cutting disks, vsensitizing apparatus, a refrigerator, a drier and a seasoner and means for passing a series of strips of a medium therethrough, one series of strips having its component members travel. parallel to one superimposed one above another. 1 16. In a process of sensitizing a medium, sensitizing said medium, reducing the temperature of said medium, elevating the temperature of said medium, elevating the temence of temperature being gradual chan es, whereby un formity of product is secure whereof, I afiix my signature.

In tes n I I FREDERICK w., E k' 

